Background and Importance Zolpidem is a benzodiazepine-like hypnotic that acts on GABA-omega receptors in the central nervous system. It is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults.

In 2014, an informative note was published by The Spanish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (AEMPS) recommending a dose of 5mg/day in elderly patients (over 65 years old), instead of 10mg (usual dose), in order to reduce the number of cases of alterations in attention and concentration capacity, including parasomnias.

Aim and Objectives Evaluate the impact of hospital pharmaceutical intervention (PI) on the prescription of zolpidem after the publication of the AEMPS informative note.

Material and Methods Multicentre and prospective intervention study which includes all patients admitted to treatment with zolpidem. The study interval was from September 2021 to September 2022. The variables collected were the following: age, sex, dosage and prescription of zolpidem as home treatment. Clinical records (Diraya®) and the electronic prescription program (Prisma®) were reviewed. The IF consisted of sending an informative note to the doctor responsible for the patients who did not comply with the AEMPS recommendation.

Results A total of 62 patients were included (mean age: 72 ± 15 years; sex: 37 men). PI was performed in 59.7% (37/62) because the prescription was not adjusted to the AEMPS alert. Regarding the 37 patients with inappropriate prescription, the dose was reduced to 5mg/day in 37.8% (14/37) of the cases. The dose of the rest of patients, 62,2% (23/37), was not change, of which 87% (20/23) had the origin of the prescription at the primary care level.

Conclusion and Relevance The acceptance of the PI was performed in a low number of cases due to the fact that the origin of zolpidem prescriptions is primary care. This creates the need to establish channels of communication between the primary care physician and the hospital pharmacist to report possible errors detected in their prescriptions.

Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest